Chapter 8: Coward?

“I’m sorry…”

The words flew from my lips, but I knew it wasn't enough. Looking away and not daring to look at her, I bowed my head low.

There was an urge to run again, maybe it had become a habit.

“I’ll–I’ll go now!”

Subconsciously I got up and headed for the exit, maybe it was easier for me to run away than to confront something.

When I think about it, I always ran away from responsibility. I lacked the will to work harder–maybe that's why I was worthless at the time.

<<Well, I’m talking about the past, but it’s not like I’m any different now either.>>

“And where are you going? Home?”

Her voice came from behind me.

My movements immediately stopped.

And really, where else was there to go, besides home? Maybe I had other relatives that I could stay with, but after her parents died, Amber had never seen them.

That meant the only other place to go was home, but I didn’t want to see my sister right now.

<<Well, I’ll think about it after we get out of here.>>

I wanted to keep walking, but Litta's voice stopped me again.

“Y-you can stay, I…I don’t blame you…”

Subconsciously turning towards her, I saw her notice my gaze and look away.

She was embarrassed too.

While I was thinking whether to stay or not, she continued. 

“I'll get you a blanket, you can sleep on the couch. It's very soft, don't worry.”

Without waiting for me to react, she went to the bedroom. Coming back with the blanket, she placed the blanket on the couch, then went back to the bedroom as she said,

“Good night.”

Watching the bedroom door close, I felt a sense of relief and added sadness.

She seemed to be too, running away from me as I was from her.

How stupid of me to do such a thing…we had only been friends for three days.

Lying on the couch, my thoughts became chaotic, trying to justify my actions or to think about how I should have acted.

Maybe if I had been restrained enough, and if I had instead gradually built up my relationship, she would have accepted me.

Maybe she wasn’t into it at all and thought it was wrong.

Maybe I shouldn't have let her go at all during the kiss and insisted.

I've heard a lot of relationship advice in the past, but I didn't know which of it was true.

Thinking about the kiss, I went into a daze. The taste of her lips was delicious, but maybe I had lost it for the sake of feeling that taste.

I honestly didn't want to lose my friendship with her over this.

My thoughts kept wandering, and I was caught in a loop of self-blame. I couldn't sleep, no matter how much I tossed and turned.

Finally the sleepless night approached dawn. Watching the light outside the window gradually grow brighter, I rose from the couch.

Carefully folding the blanket, I quickly put on my shoes, and opening the front door, I went out.

My mind was exhausted. I wanted to get out of here so I wouldn't have to face her.

Although I wanted to apologize to her, the guilt made me choose to run away again.

The cold air biting at my exposed thighs made me sober up.

I headed in the direction of the subway.

Soon I finally reached it. Luckily the subway was already running this early in the morning.

After sitting in the train for a while and watching the scenery change outside the window, I felt drowsy.

I hurriedly shook my head to cheer myself up and stood up as I reached my destination.

I turned the corner as I left the subway and walked along the street, which was almost empty.

Seeing a few people smoking and drinking, my movements stopped for a moment before I crossed to the opposite side of them and continued forward.

“Heeeey, pretty girl! How…how much do ya want for the night?”

A voice calling from the side came into my ears. Ignoring it, I continued on my way.

As I walked forward I heard quick footsteps from several people.

I stopped and turned my head. Those drunken people were following me throwing enthusiastic glances.

A voice came out of the mouth of the man who was walking ahead of the group.

“You…you’re a pretty girl. I asked, *hic* how much do ya want for the night?”

“Go away.”

I tried to ignore them, but one of them got ahead of me and stopped, blocking my way, which made me roll my eyes.

“Pretty girlie, we’re offering some good money. Why are you in such a rush?”

As I looked at the man again, he opened his mouth with a smile.

“If you don't get off my back right now, I'll break your legs.”

As if they heard a joke, looking at each other, they all laughed together.

My irritation washed away all the sleepiness, the rage boiling up inside me. I just wanted to get home quickly now and lie down.

I knew a lot of girls could get into trouble just walking out the door because of their beauty. But I didn't assume that I would also get into this situation twice in one day.

Extreme anger over failure and guilt made me clench my hands tightly.

At that moment when the main douchebag came toward me trying to put his arm around my neck, I stopped holding myself back.

I grabbed his arm, spun around, and yanked him over my shoulder. He probably couldn't hold on because of the alcohol and quickly fell backwards onto the sidewalk.

I quickly turned around and swung my foot right in one of the others’ faces, and he fell down staggeringly.

At that moment the others finally came to their senses. One ducked down on me to grab me, but I kicked my leg out and hit him right in the stomach.

He grabbed his stomach and fell down and started tearing up.

Behind me I heard the sound of wind. Subconsciously, I turned back and blocked with my hands to my right.

The incoming blow was swift–the other side didn't seem to be a normal person.

As I felt some numbness in my arms, my opponent quickly backed away a few steps and looked at me.

“Are you…a hunter?”

He asked, but I didn't answer him, jumping up from my crouch at full force with rage.

He certainly couldn't react at that speed, even though he was probably a hunter as well.

When I furiously kicked him in the stomach, he stretched out like a shrimp.

“W-wait–”

I heard a gasping voice from him.

But my blows didn't stop; the next blow went right into his jaw.

From the impact and force, he was thrown several feet in the air.

Feeling that the last blow was too much I hastily went to look closer, but the other side began to cough and spit out blood.

He was clearly not normal, so I guessed he was probably fine..

Looking at the side with my anger still lingering, coming closer, I pulled the leg of one of them up and kicked it with my foot.

I heard a snap and a scream of pain.

After that there were several more of the same.

As I approached the man who was barely holding himself up with his two hands, I quickly struck him in the stomach.

Then grabbing his leg as well, I wanted to repeat the action, but his voice stopped me.

“WAIT! Wait! Kh–kheugh…”

I stared at him waiting to see what he had to say.

“Y-you…do you know, who I am–”

Crack!

Letting go of his leg, I wiped off my hands and walked towards home.

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Opening the door I closed it carefully, trying to sneak silently to my room.

But as soon as I started to go through the living room the light turned on.

I jumped up in fright as a familiar figure came into my eye.

She was holding a real katana-like sword, dressed in light athletic clothing, sweating slightly.

Looking at me, she muttered, “...You’re back.”

“Yes…” I answered in a quiet voice, but when I looked up at her there was a strangeness in her blue eyes.

“What happened?” I subconsciously asked, wanting to know what was wrong.

Looking at me for a few seconds she turned her head to the side and said,

“Nothing…go get yourself cleaned up.”

She left with those words, retreating toward the training room.

Puzzled as I watched her retreating figure, I didn't understand what she meant.

Could it be that the fight caused me to be covered in mud or something?

Hastily looking down to check my condition I saw the black dress Litta had given me.

The dress barely covered my thighs, and from the outside I already knew this outfit was clearly sexy to me, but now remembering this I thought about the reactions of those people, as well as my sister's strange eyes.

My face immediately turned red. I quickly ran upstairs and hurriedly removed the dress. Luckily there was no damage.

Thinking back to the time I went to bed in it and didn't notice at all, because of the cold thoughts I had left without even thinking about it.

And my own clothes were still with Litta.

As I lay on the bed, my thoughts wandered. Even though it was slowly turning dawn, I was prone to sleep.

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Opening my eyes and getting up, I stretched. Feeling rested, I left my bed and headed towards the bathroom.

I cleaned myself up and went back to my room. Apparently my sister wasn't home.

So, I could relax. Taking my phone in hand, were a few messages in the group about what happened yesterday.

There was no message from LItta. Realizing that my recklessness yesterday could have made it even worse, I sighed.

Going downstairs to eat and be lazy, only then did I notice the flashing icon.

[You have obtained the skill {Rage}, Proficient level.

Description: During {Rage}, your Strength will increase by several points, while your Mind will decrease by the same amount.]

The skill was good in critical cases, although it had side effects.

Lying on the couch, I didn't feel like doing anything, when at this time a message came from my sister.

It said that she was going on a mission to kill a demon, and might be back late today.

And that I’d have to buy something to eat or cook by myself.

Demon.

Words familiar in the past because of anime, games, and so on.

It had become a reality here, but although I wondered what they were, I had no way to find them.

They say hunters used special techniques or artifacts to determine where they are.

As I thought about it, the flashing sign reappeared.

As I focused my gaze on it, a window unfolded.

[Minimap Function: You can see the locations of demons that are equal to or lower than you in level.

Range: 100 meters]

Reading the text in the window, I was surprised. It turned out this system also had other functions.

Opening the system menu again, to the right was something like a radar icon with several red dots on it.

When I clicked on it, immediately in my field of vision in the upper left corner appeared a circular thing, in the center of which rotated something similar to a compass arrow, only it had more pointers.

But there was mostly empty space and this radar showed nothing but a few white dots in the distance. According to the chart, there were no demons within a hundred meters.

It turned out that this radar showed not only demons but humans too, just as white dots.

After thinking for a few seconds I went into the training room. On the left wall was the same katana my sister had this morning.

I put it in my inventory and wanted to leave, but after thinking about it I turned around and put a few more in my inventory.

Just in case.

As I walked out of the house and closed the door, my current goal was to get something to eat.

Chapter end